NEW DELHI, Nov 11: Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that the upcoming foreign secretaries-level talks with Pakistan would explore the contours of a joint mechanism against terrorism rather than right away share evidence in the Mumbai blasts, according to his remarks quoted on Saturday.
"India was in no hurry to share any information with Pakistan on the ISI links to the recent blasts in Mumbai," CNN-IBN news channel said, quoting Mr. Mukherjee on the sidelines of a function of the foreign diplomats programme on Friday evening.
"I would like that they should stick to the assurances they have given," Mr. Mukherjee said on the margins of the conference. He was referring to Pakistan's commitment not to allow anti-India operations from its soil.
"In course of discussions, we will find out what could be the joint consultative mechanism to deal with terrorism. Sharing of information and other things will follow after the establishment of the institution," Mr Mukherjee said.
Indian news reports have claimed that New Delhi was unlikely to present the much-hyped evidence implicating Pakistan in the July 11 blasts at the foreign secretaries talks because the Mumbai police had not yet prepared the chargesheet.
Addressing the foreign diplomats, Mr Mukherjee indirectly referred to the issues of terrorism affecting India. "An environment of security, predictability and peace is essential for people to prosper, business to flourish and development to take place," he said.
"Today, the principal threats to peace and stability in the world are less from wars between nations and more from transnational terrorism," he emphasised.
"That is why, as we jointly work towards an intensification of our economic and other ties, we should not lose sight of the overarching importance of working purposefully and in cooperation to combat the menace of terrorism."
The United News of India said on Saturday that India would hand over to Pakistan "some" evidence about Pakistan-based outfits it says are involved in terrorist incidents across the border.
Islamabad's response would be a ''test'' of its seriousness about the Jan 6, 2004, commitments regarding controlling flow of terror from its soil.
Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Mohammed Khan will meet here on Nov 14-15 to discuss various issues including terrorism. Mr Khan arrives here on Nov 13 for the talks.
